Before the Sunset

Before the Sunset….

Full moon night always fascinate me with millions of sparkling stars and dark surrounding wearing black. Huge trees were standing near the only canal running through the center of the town. Sound silence breaks with the barking and howling of dogs. I was waiting for the time before dawn to leave.

A sharp yellow light was coming near, I became hopeful and gave a signal to stop and fortunately it slowed down when wheels screeched near my feet while I jumped little back.

I want lift little far from the town, can you please and the door opened. I got hesitant little but keeping the situation in mind had no other option.

Car is running on the road, I turned my face towards the man seemed in mid thirties wearing delicate spectacles with Navy blue Sweater and jeans. Where will you go? He asked. Out of the town, I replied. Hmmm! He said nothing.

I am an Engineer working on Dam project started by the government but actually live in Sydney. It was two year project about to be completed then I will leave. He was telling about himself but I had no concern with what he was saying, I just wanted to escape before sunrise, had least attention on his words.

Do you mind telling me your name? I looked at him with and whispered “Ayesha�. Nice name, he commented.

After 15 minutes or so when silence got long, I heard his voice. Don’t run from the house, it will take you no where. I jumped from my seat not because he said so but he was quite straight forward.

I am not running from my house. I composed myself while replying. Then what made you escape in cold early before morning?

My ego and self respect. He seemed astonished, turned his head little for a while.
Ego is nothing other then sickness of mind and you look quite healthy. I couldn’t understand, either he was telling or asking me. My father wanted me to leave the job and remain at home as situation is not healthy to live alone in big city, but I refused. Why? He asked. Cause critical situation doesn’t make me harassed. He thinks, open sky is not for girls because space is confined for them, they should limit their activities. He wanted me to marry a person less educated then me, illiterate. I said with hatred. Why do I surrender, he is a villager, less educated wholly land lord not aware of modern and civilized society, manners;
Modernism will drown you. He interrupted me. What? Modernism will drown you, he repeated.
I am surprised, how can you say so, you are an engineer, live in Sydney, educated, civilized; I am not, he interrupted once again. My fear was left behind and had been talking like knew him since long.

If you think the people being highly educated and living in foreign are sophisticated and civilized, you are wrong. I am educated but unaware of family sentiments, moral values, norms of loyalty, love, affection. Live in Sydney but totally blind of my roots, race, respect of relations, humanity. I am not civilized, if you think the modernism is to speak high in gatherings, laugh remotely to grab the higher position, shake hands and put the arm in the back of young beautiful lady and insult the waiter cause of his little mistake, I am afraid you are sadly mistaken. Don’t let down your values, norms, love with your family cause of so called novelty. You will be lost not only physically but heartedly and I am lost. His voice was low and brown eyes had dull effect when looked at me speaking his line.

Sun was rising, chirping of birds and low breeze made me came out of trance.
Car stopped and he left, I couldn’t ask him where he was going, had no other option then waiting. Wait was over when he sat back on his seat, had tea and sandwiches, he gave me one and I took without any rejection cause I was starved since yesterday. We finished and vehicle moved ahead.

While entering the city, the day was started and roads found crowded, he was driving smoothly; we didn’t dialogue single word after last conversation. After a while he parked the car near a huge building. Lock the door; I will be back in some time and left. Hmm; I covered myself with shawl and sat back relaxed.

Car was running on road when opened my eyes, you were tired so I didn’t wake you up. Oh han, yes! Where are we, what’s the time? Its 3:00 PM. Oh how long I slept, please drop me somewhere, I will mange myself now and thanks; you helped me.

What if I couldn’t, what if I don’t drop you, what if I want the return of this help, he said deeply and my breath was held. No, you can’t do this, you will not. I said with scary voice. I will and I can, assured you I am not elegant but liberal ahead of limits. There is nothing wrong if I want you to stay one another day with me, it’s a modern culture and you wanted to live in, be a part of it. Aren’t you? He smiled and I shattered with fear.
Did your fiancée ever asked you for that? Oh how could that stupid narrow thinker villager said so, he was a dump. Wasn’t he? He was speaking and I was drowning in hyper freaky scary trance. Please drop me; I request you, please. Oh really, how did you think that a stranger will help you and take you safely to your place without cheating you? He smiled devilish and my eyes filled with tears. You are beautiful, he said and I started begging him. For god sake, let me go, I beg of you, drop me, please. He laughed and I couldn’t realize the roads he was running the car.

The only thought in my mind was to escape from the state; I wanted to go back home, my shelter and guard. Lost memories of love and affection of my family were making me cry. I was pushed when car stopped, sun was setting and this; this road, trees, all were as same, fields and birds. I looked at him astonishingly. Go Ayesha; live with family in warm affectionate environment. I am leaving for Sydney today night. It’s not too late, go before Sunset.